Collapsible kite



March 29, 1949. J. F. NEARY 2,465,917

COLLAPSIBLE KITE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 15, 1946 March 29, 1949. .1.v F. 'NEARY COLLAPSIBLE KITE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 15, 1946 Patented Mar. 29, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE COLLAPSIBLE' KITE John F. Neary, North Wales, Pa.

Application February 15, 1946," Serial No. 647,909

(Cl. 244--153l 3 Claims. 1

My invention relates to new and useful collapsible kite and has for one of its objects to provide such a device wherein all of the parts of the pivotally in position to hold the kite in an operative: position, and by moving the slide heads towards the tail .end of th kite, the sectional transverse stays may be collapsed together with the sail and. thereafter, the sail wrapped about itself and the kite skeleton, to produce a small parcel for storage or shipping.

A further object of this invention is to provide a :connecting rod attached to the slide "heads whereby the actuation of one will cause the other or others to move in th same direction simultaneously for either extending or. collapsing the kite structure.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a single lock ng means for limiting the extensible movements of the transverse stays and the kite structure as a whole and holding the same in extended, operative condition, said locking means being automatic in action for locking purposes and manually operative for releasing the transverse stays whenthe kite structure is to be collapsed.

Withthe above and other objects in view this invention consists of the details of construction and combination of elements hereinafter set forth and then designated by the claims.

In order that those skilled in the art to which this invention appertains may understand how to make and us the same I will describe its construction in detail, referring by numerals to the accompanying drawings forming a part, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a kite constructed in accordance with the invention and looking down on top thereof, a portion of the sail border being cut away to show a part of the border cord, wire or the like.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the kite looking upward from underneath at the face thereof.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional elevation lengthwise of the longitudinal stay in the 2 region of the transverse stays and to one side of the slide heads.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of the longitudinal and one transverse stay in the locality of the lock or catch.

Fig. 5 is a'view of back of the kite when the latter is partially collapsed.

Fig. 6 is somewhat similar view of the kite completely collapsed' Fig. 'I is a view illustratingthecollapsed kite folded into a small parcel.

Fig. 8 is a cross sectional view adjacent one of the-cross stays and the look.

In carrying out my invention as herein em-' bodied, It! represents the longitudinal stay of the kite',- on which a'numb'er' of slide heads are mounted, two of such slide heads being shown; for purposes'of illustration, and'designated by the numerals H and I2.

Each slide head includes aplate 43, or equiv alent, and a yoke 14, formed as an integral unit or of separate parts, as desired, and "of anysuitable material;

The sections 15 of each transverse stay l6, ll

are plVote'd "at 18 totheirrespective slide heads I l and I2."

Preferably-,the sections of the-different trans-- verse'stays are loca ed on opposite faces of the slide heads or slide head plates, that is,'the sec ti'ons of thetransverse stay 16' may 'be underneath of the slide head plate It andth'e sections of thetransverse stay I! may be on top of *the slidehead plate-l2. This will permit the sec-'- tions of one transverse stay to overlap similar sections of-the other transverse stay and there by mak a smaller parcel.

The two sections of 'each transverse stay as well as the longitudinal stay may be constructed of any suitable "material, for instance alight weight wood or metal, such as aluminum, in the form of small rods, which may be rectangular, round or other shape or grooved like umbrella stays.

The plurality of slide heads are permanently coupled together by a connecting rod l9 so that they form a unitary structure that is slidable lengthwise on the longitudinal stay H]. A stop pin, lug or the like 20 is carried by the longitudinal stay ill in th path of travel of the apertured spring finger 2| carried by the slide head H and said pin and finger cooperate to limit the outward movements of the heads and associated parts and retain the parts in extended positions.

The remote or outer ends of the longitudinal and sectional transverse stays have suitable cords, wires or the like 22 connected thereto in any desirable manner and form the border strands of the kite. Engaged over the cords, wires or strands are the folded edge portions 23 of the sail 24 of the kite, which sail is composed of fabric, tough paper or other material, through which air will not readily pass. Generally the kite sail will be made from fabric because of its readily foldable properties but it is possible to employ a tough although soft and foldable paper.

A transverse cord, wire or strand 25 is connected to the remote or outer ends of each sectional transverse stay and said cord or the like 25 is shorter than its respective stay so that when sufficiently taut, as described below, will bow each transverse stay into the customary or usual kite formation.

A bridle cord 26 is attached to the face of the kite as to eyes 21 carried by the longitudinal stay l and projecting through the kite sail. A suitable kite flying cord 28 is connected to the bridle cord, whereby the kite may be allowed to ascend when said fiying cord is properly manipulated.

In practice, when the kite is unfolded and the transverse stay and slide head structure is moved towards the head of the kite, the slide heads, connecting rod and inner ends of the sections of the transverse stays will operate in unison to position the parts as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2. The sectional transverse stays are caused to assume such positions because their outer ends are relatively fixed while the inner ends of the sections are pivoted.

Since the cords or the like 25 are shorter than the extended transverse stays, the latter will be bowed as they are carried into their distended positions, as will be readily understood, thereby producing the desired curvature to the kite sail. When the parts are fully extended the apertured spring finger will engage the stop pin 20 to limit the outward movement of the transverse stay structure and automatically lock the parts in the distended positions.

When it is desired to collapse the kite, the spring finger 2| is manually disengaged from the stop pin 20 and the transverse stay structure is moved towards the tail end of the kite. During this collapsing operation the transverse stay sections will gradually swing in towards the longitudinal stay, as suggested in Fig. 5, and then become completely collapsed as in Fig. 6, and finally the kite sail can be rolled up and wrapped about the contracted kite skeleton, as shown in Fig. 7, thus providing a small and compact parcel for storage or transportation purposes, the kite may be tied, placed in a separate wrapping or even placed in a case or sheath.

Of course I do not wish to be limited to the exact details of construction herein shown and described as these may be varied within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having described my invention what I claim as new and useful is:

l. A kite comprising a frame composed of a central longitudinal stay, a plurality of transverse stays, a covering for said frame, strands in the margin of said covering and connecting the remote ends of all the stays, said transverse stays comprising sections, and means slidable on the longitudinal stay and to which the inner ends of the sections are pivoted, whereby upon moving said means in one direction on the longitudinal stay the frame may be collapsed, means for locking the frame in extended condition, and a strand connecting the remote ends of the sections of each transverse stay to bow the transverse stays outwardly relative to the face of the kite as the strands are drawn taut due to the extending of the kite, and a bridle and kite cord connected to the kite.

2. The kite of claim 1 wherein the slidable means to which the sections of the transverse stays are pivoted comprise a. plurality of slide heads, and a connecting rod attached to said slide heads whereby the latter will slide in unison.

3. A kite comprising a longitudinal stay, a pair of spaced apart slide heads mounted on said longitudinal stay, a connecting rod fixed to said slide heads whereby the latter will move in unison, a pair of transverse stays composed of two sections each, the inner ends of the sections of each transverse stay being pivoted to one of the slide heads, an apertured spring finger carried by one head, a pin on the longitudinal stay in the path of travel of said apertured finger to lock the parts in operative position, a strand connected to the remote ends of all of the stays, a kite sail having its margin fixed to said strand, other strands shorter than the transverse stays when extended, one of the last mentioned strands being fixed to the remote end of each transverse stay to bow the latter when the kite is distended, and a bridle and kite cord connected to the kite.

JOHN F. NEARY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS France Jan. 10, 1907 

